Safety device for centrifugal extractors.



W. BARTHOLOMEW. SAFETY DEVICE FOR CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTORS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, I913- Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

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W. BARTHOLOMEW. SAFETY DEVICE FOR CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTORS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-"l8, I913. IEEQ QQB Patented Feb. 6,1917.

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SAFETY DEVICE FOR CENT-RIFUGAL EXTRACTORS. APPLICATION FILED FEB- 18, I9I3- Patented mm, 1917.

WILLIAM BARTHOLOME'W', OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T TROY LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, LTD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORAT ION OF NEW YORK.

terraces.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR CENTRIFUG'AL EXTRACTORS.

Patented rent. ram,

Application filed February 18, 1913. Serial No. 749,138.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM BARTHOLO- new, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new i and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Centrifugal Extractors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates in general to laundry machinery, and more particularly to centrifugal extractors.

In" the operation of centrifugal extractors numerous accidents have occurred to the.

operators by reason of the suction created within the rotating basket by the high speed of its revolution. 'In order to avoid such accidents it has heretofore been proposed to .provide covers for preventing the operators from inserting their hands within the revolving baskets, and to interpose interlocking connections between such covers and the power-applying means, so that the covers cover will be automatically locked inclosed position and will be automatically retained in closed position as long as the basket revolves. I

A further object of my invention is'to-pro-" vide a centrifugal extractor in which the driving power can only be applied to rotate the basket when the cover is closed; .in which the cover when closed wlll be automatically locked in such position, and in which it will be impossible to unlock the cover as long as the basket continues to revolve.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a cover for a centrifugal extrac tor with a, latch which 'will, when the cover is closed, automatically lock the cover in such position, and to provide, means for preventing-the actuation of such latch to release the cover as longas the basket continues to revolve.

A final object of my invention isto provide a centrifugal extractor, or a similar machine, with safety mechanism for protect- 1I1g the operators from injury, which will be comparatively simple in construction and efficient in use. 7

My invention will be more fully described herelnafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same is illustrated as embodied in a convenient and practical form, and in which F gure 1 is a. side elevation;

Fig. 2, a detail vertical section illustrating the relation between the cover and belt shifter; 1

Fig. 3, a plan view;

Fig. at, an enlarged detail on line at a,

.-Fig. 3

Fig. 5, a rear elevational view; and

Fig. 6, a sectional detail on line 6 6, Fig. 5. Similar reference characters are used to designatesimilai; parts in the several fig arcs of the drawings.

Reference letter A indicates the casing of a centrifugal extractor in which is inclosed the usual revolving basket a. B designates a suitable support for the casing A comprising standards and a base 5 adapted to be supported upon the floor. C designates a cover for closing the top of the casing, thereby preventing access to the inclosed basket.

D designates-a vertical spindle upon the upper end of which the basket is supported and to which-power is applied for rotating the same and thereby imparting revolution to the basket. (Z designates a pulley secured concentrically around the spindle D which is engaged by a driving belt The driving belt E extends around a palley E fixed upon a shaft 6 suitably jour naled at its ends in the vertical brackets F, F of a suitable supporting frame F. E and E designate pulleys, one fixed to and the other loose upon the shaft 6. c and c designate idler guide pulleys around which the belt E passes from the pulley E to the pulley (Z on the spindle D.

G designates a belt shifter comprising a reciprocating I rod supported in the upper endsof the brackets F and F and provided with a handle 57 for reciprocating the same 9 and designate the guides carried by the reciprocating rod of the belt shifter G and adapted to engage the power belt 9 to shift the same from the tight to the loose pulley or vice versa.

I designates a brake for engaging the pulley (Z on the spindle D so as to stop-the and operation of my invention may be fully understood.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that when the cover C is lifted into a substantially vertical position it will be heldopen by means of a gravity latch c pivoted to the upper end 7 of the bracket F and adapted to extend through an opening 0 in the cover C adjacent the hinge 0 thereof. This construction is also shown in Fig. 6. It will be observed that when the cover is lifted it extends across the path of the reciprocatmg rod of the belt shifter G and thereby prevents the belt shifter from moving in a di rection to shift the belt 9 from the loose pulley E to he tight pulley E Therefore power cant Qt be applied to rotate the basket when the cover is open. \Vhen the cover is closed, which may occur only by lifting the gravity latch c, the belt shifter may be moved to apply power to the spindle and in such position the inner end of the rod G overlies the cover adjacent the hinge c, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby preventing the cover from being raised as long as the shifter is in position to apply power to the spindle.

H designates a vertical oscillatory shaft journaled upon the frame F by means of a bracket H at the lower end of the shaft, and a bracket H projecting laterally from the upper end f of the bracket F as will be seen by reference to Fig. 5. The handle It is secured to the upper end of the shaft H for oscillating the latter. Rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft H is a radially projecting lever K which at its free end extends adjacent the spindle' D of the basket. L designates a camiixed to the spindle D and preferably in the form of an ellipse, which is located in the same horizontal plane as the free end of the lever K.

. M designates an arm secured to the shaft H adjacent its upper end and carrying within its outer end a spring actuated latch M. .The construction of this latch will be evident from 'Fig. 4, in which m designates a spring surrounding the rod m projecting from the inner end of the latch, such spring being interposed between the latch and the adjacent surface of the recess in the end of the arm M in which the latch is located. A stop pin m projects upwardly from the latch M through a slot m in the top wall of the chamber in which the latch is located. N designates a crank arm secured at one end to the pivot rod 7% of the cover C, the rod a being rigidly secured to the cover, as shown in Fig. 6. When the cover is closed, the crank arm N occupies a horizontal plane immediately above that of the latch M.

O designates a spring secured at one end to the bracket H, and its other end to a crank arm 0 rigidly secured to the shaft H adjacent its lower end. v v

The manner of using and operation of-my improved centrifugal extractor are as fol lows: Assuming that the. parts are in the position shown in full lines in the drawings, it will be seen that the power beltg engages thetight pulley E thereby rotating the shaft e and with it the pulley E. The belt E is thereby driven and communicates motion, through its engagement with the pulley (Z, to the spindle D and thence to the basket. The position of the belt shifter, as above explained, prevents the raising of the cover C, owing to the inner end of the reciprocating rod of the shifter overlying the basket adjacent its hinge. The cover is also retained in its closed position by reason of the latclrM underlying the outer end of the crank arm N fixed to the cover C through the medium of the pivot rod 72 to which both the cover and the crank arm are fixed. The latch M is'retained in position beneath the outer end of the crank arm N by reason of the spring 0 acting through the shaft H. The cover cannot, therefore, be raised unless the shaft H is oscillated against the tension of the spring 0 so as to swing the latch M from beneath the outer end of the crank arm vents the shaft H being rocked suiiiciently to disengage the latch M from beneath the free end of the crank arm N. The cover is therefore retained in closed position as long as the power is applied to the basket by reasonof the inner end of the belt shifterrod overlying the cover adjacent its hinge. hen the belt shifter is actuated to disconnect the belt from the spindle, the cover is retained closed by reason of the latch M underlying the crank arm N audit is impossible to disengage the latch from the crank arm as long as the basket continues to rotate at sufiicient speed to be dangerous to the operator, owing to the rotation of the cam L relatively to the inner end of the lever K which prevents the oscillation of the .shaft H sufliciently to disengage the latch from the crank arm on the cover.

After the basket has ceased to rotate, which may be facilitated by means of the brake- I, pressure is applied to the handle it and the shaft H oscillated against the tension of the spring 0 and in a direction to remove the latch M from beneath the crank arm N, such oscillation of the shaft being permitted by reason of the play between the inner end of the lever K and the portions of the cam L having the shorter radius. The cover may then be lifted into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 6 Where it will be retained by the gravity latch 0 in the path of the belt shifter.

After the clothes from which the water has been extracted have been removed from the basket and other clothes placed therein preparatory to having the water extracted from them, the gravity latch c is lifted and the cover C closed. The closing of the cover causes the crank arm N to swing upwardly from the depending position which it occupies when the cover is open, past the latch M, which is beveled in an upward direction, to a position slightly above the latch so that the latter is projected by its actuating spring beneath the outer end of the crank arm. The cover is thereby automatically locked in closed position immediately upon its being closed. The belt shifter is then actuated which retains the cover in closed position as long as the belt is applied to the tight pulley. The rotation of the spindle then commences and through the cam L thereon cooperating with the free end of the lever K prevents the oscillation of the shaft H in a direction to disengage the latch M from the crank arm N.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have invented an improved safety mechanism forcentrifugal extractors, whereby the pperators are protected from injury no matter how careless they may be. The cover must be closed before power can be applied to the basket and cannot be raised until the power has been disconnected. The cover is automatically further locked in closed position as soon as closed and retained locked in closed position as long as the basket continues to rotate, thereby preventing the lifting of the cover after the power has been disconnected from the basket but while it continues to revolve by momentum. Even after the. rotation of the basket has so diminished as to permit the cover to be unlocked it isv necessary to manually apply power to the lock before the cover can be raised. It will therefore be seen that my invention fully safe-guards those who operate centrifugal extractors and avoids any liability of their injury no matter how careless they may be. I

- While I have illustrated and described my invention as embodied in a centrifugal extractor and havedefined the same in the following claims with reference to such em bodimentthereof, yet. I do not wish thereby to be understood as restricting the application of my invention to centrifugal extractors, but intend thereby to protect it for.

whatever uses it may be adapted and in whatever forms it may be capable of practical embodiment.

I claim:

.1. In a centrifugal extractor, the combina tion with a. rotary basket, a casing within which the basket is inclosed, a cover for said casing, means for rotating said basket, a manually operative latch for locking said cover closed, a plurality of projections rotated by said means for rotating the basket, and a movable member connected with said latch and extending in the path of rotation of said projections when the latch is in unlocked position, whereby the operation of said latch to unlock the cover is prevented during the rotation of said basket.

2. In a centrifugal extractor, the combina tion with a rotary basket, a casing within which the basket is inclosed, a cover for said casing, means for rotating said basket, a"

latch for autoi'natically locking said cover closed, means for manually operating said latch to-unlock the cover, a plurality of projections rotated by said means for rotating the basket, and a movable member connected ,with said latch and extending in the path of rotation of said projections when the latch in unlocked position, whereby the operation of said latch to unlock the cover is prevented during the rotation of said basket.

3. In a centrifugal extractor; the combination with a rotary basket, a casing within which said basket is inclosed, acover for said casing, power transmitting mechanism for rotating said basket, a latch automati cally locking said cover closed, means for manually operating said latch to unlock the cover, a plurality of projections rotated by said power transmitting mechanism, a movable member connected with said latch and extending into the path of rotation of said projections when the latch is in unlocked position, whereby the operation of said latch to unlock the cover during the rotation of the basket is prevented.

I. In a centrifugal extractor. the combination with a rotary basket, a casing within which said basket is inclosed, a cover for said casing, a spindle on which said basket is supported and by which itis rotated,

means for rotating said spindle,'a latch for automatically locking said cover when closed in closed position, means'for manually operating said latch to unlock the cover, and mechanism forpreventing the actuation of said manual means to unlock the cover comprising a member projecting eccenv, movement thereof, and a plurality of elements actuated bythe power transmit-ting mechanism and having a path of movement intersecting the path of said lever, whereby the movement of said lever necessary to permit the disengagement of the latch from the cover isprevented'during the rotation of the basket. M

- 6, In a centrifugal extractor, the combination-with a rotary basket, a casing within which said basket is inclosed, a cover for said casing, power transmitting mechanism for rotating said basket, a latch lTOI' lOCkIHg said cover closed, a lever operatively connected with said latch for controlling the movement thereof, and a .projection fixed to and revolving with ,a rotary member of the power transmitting mechanism and having a path of movement intersecting the path of said alever, whereby the movement of said lever necessary to permit the disengagement of the latch from the cover is prevented during the rotation of the basket.

7. In a centrifugal extractor, the combination with a rotary basket,'.a casing within which said basket is inclosed, a cover for said casing, power transmitting mechanism forrotating said basket, a latch for locking said cover closed, an oscillatory shaft for operating said latch to lock and unlock the cover, a lever operatively connected with said shaft for controlling the unlocking movement of said latch, and a-projection actuated by the power transmitting mecha nism having a path of movement intersect ing the path of said lever.

8. In a centrifugal extractor, the combination with a rotary basket, a casing within which said basket is inclosed, a cover for said casing, power transmittingmechanism for rotating said basket, a latch for lockmg said cover closed, a spring for retain;

ing said latch in locking engagement with sa d cover, a handle for moving said latch into unlocked position, a lever operatively connected'with said latch, and a cam rotated bythe power transmitting mechanism the unlocking of said I and having a path of movement intersecting the path of said lever, whereby said lever cannot bemoved in a direction to permit latch during the rotation of said basket. j I

'9. In a centrifugal extractor, the combination with a rotary basket, a casing within which said basket is inclosed,- a cover for said basket, a latch for locking said cover closed, an oscillatory shaft for operating .said latch-to lock and unlock the cover, 'a spring for retaining saidshaft in position to retainsaid latch in looking position, a handle for oscillating said shaft in a direction to disengage the latch from said cover, a lever 'operatiVely connected with said shaft, power transmitting mechanism for rotating said basket, and a plurality of. projecting elements rotated by the power transmitting mechanism and having a path of movement intersecting the path of said lever, whereby said lever cannot be moved in a direction to permit said shaft to oscilfi'oiri the cover. v

'10. In a centrifugal extractor, the combi-' nation witha rotary basket, a casing with-' in which said basket is inclosed, a cover for said basket, a latch for locking said cover closed, an oscillatory shaft for operating said latch to lock and unlock the cover,

.late in a direction to disengageisaid latch a spring for retaining said shaft in position to retain said latch in looking position, a

handle for oscillating said shaft in a direction to disengage the latch from said cover, a lever, operatively connected with said shaft, a spindle upon which said basket is supported and by which it is rotated, and

a cam projecting radially from said spindle and having a path of movement intersectingthepath of said lever, whereby said lever cannot be moved in a direction to permit the oscillation of said shaft to unlock the latch during the rotation of the basket. '11. In a centrifugal extractor, the combination with a rotary basket, a casing within which said basket is closed, a cover for said casing, power transmitting mechanism for .rotating said basket, a vertical spindle upon the upper end of which said basket is mounted, means for controlling the con- 1 ne'ctioncf said power transmitting mechanism with saidbasket, means for preventing the opening of the cover while power is applied to the basket; a latch for automatically locking the cover when closed, and

means for preventing the movement of said latch-{to unlock the cover during the rotation of the basket comprising a member pro ecting eccentrically from and rigidly connected with said spindle below said basket.

12. In a centrifugal extractor, the combination with a rotary basket, of a casing within which said basket is inclosed, a cover ment of the member in a direction to per- 10 mit the opening of the cover duringthe rotation of the basket. v

In testimony whereof, I have. subscribed my name. a WILLIAM BARTHOLOMEW. WVitnesses:

C. M. LEARY, p F. G. WHITMORE. 

